Daily Headlines for November 6, 2012
All Eyes On Georgia, Washington As Voters Consider Charter School Initiatives
CNN Blog, November 6, 2012
(CNN) On Tuesday, voters in two states – Washington and Georgia – will be weighing in on charter schools.
Georgia’s Voters Will Decide on Future of Charter Schools
New York Times, NY, November 6, 2012
Staff members in the charter school division of the Georgia Department of Education keep notepads in their offices inscribed with a mantra: “Is it best for students? Then do it.”
The Tangled Webs Of Private Influence On Public School Reform
Washington Post Blog, DC, November 6, 2012
Last February, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization called In the Public Interest, submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for private emails and other files from Indiana school superintendent Tony Bennett and the Indiana Department of Education in an effort to track the extent of private influence on public education policy.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Woodland School Officials Oppose New Charter School
Daily Democrat, CA, November 6, 2012
Too few signatures, a poor track record and an “unsound educational program” are the main reasons Woodland school district administrators gave for not endorsing a new charter school petition by Woodland Poly’s founders.
Wildlife Group To Outline Charter School At OUHSD Board Meeting
Mercury-Register, CA, November 5, 2012
A proposed new charter school for high school students (and eventually junior high) will be the subject of a public hearing and presentation Wednesday night at an Oroville Union High School District board of trustees meeting.
Charter schools surge in Petaluma, Sonoma County
Press Democrat, CA, November 5, 2012
Sonoma County is at the forefront of the charter school movement in California with 11 new schools opening this year, second only to massive Los Angeles County Unified with its nearly 660,000 students.
Oxford Prep Officials: Test Score Success Came From Working Smarter, Harder – Not Cheating
Contra Costa Times, CA, November 5, 2012
The key to a Chino charter school’s chart-topping statewide testing scores isn’t cheating, officials at the school say – it’s working smarter and harder.
YUSD Board Considers New Charter School
Ridgecrest Daily Independent, CA, November 5, 2012
The Yreka Union School District (YUSD) Board of Trustees met for a special meeting on Oct. 30 for a public hearing in consideration of a new charter school in Yreka that would cater to Kindergarten through eighth grade home schooled students.
COLORADO
Group Proposes Charter School In Englewood
Our Colorado News, CO, November 5, 2012
Two meetings are scheduled for proponents to talk about their proposal to start a charter school in Englewood.
Aspen’s School Board Rethinking Acceptance Policy For Some Students
Aspen Daily News, CO, November 6, 2012
The Aspen School District’s Board of Education is rethinking a long-held agreement with the Aspen Community School that ensures their graduates a spot at the high school in an effort to reduce enrollment numbers.
FLORIDA
Duval School Board OKs $1M For Two-Year Bonuses
Florida Times Union, FL, November 5, 2012
The Duval County School Board voted Monday to approve more than $1 million in bonuses spread over two years for school-based and district administrators and non-union employees.
Scott Links His Education Plan To Jobs
Tampa Bay Tribune, FL, November 6, 2012
Gov. Rick Scott continued his push Monday for changes to how schools operate, saying education is the key to a robust economy.
GEORGIA
Smaller Georgia School Districts May Lose Out If Charter School Amendment Passes
WJBF, GA, November 5, 2012
The charter amendment is slated to bring more educational options to students of Georgia. But it has brought a lot of division among voters.
IDAHO
Idaho Teacher Pay For Performance: Research Vs. Experience
Boise State Public Radio, ID, November 5, 2012
Tuesday Idahoan’s will vote on propositions 1, 2, and 3. Those ask if the state should keep the controversial education laws known as Students Come First.
AJ Balukoff: Propositions 1, 2 And 3 Are Disjointed And ‘Patched Together’
Idaho Statesman, ID, November 5, 2012
The Boise School Board evaluates every program, policy and initiative with the question, “What difference does this make for students?” This is the lens that we use in the Boise district. It was not used to develop the Students Come First laws.
ILLINOIS
CPS, Level With Parents Now
Chicago Tribune, IL, November 6, 2012
Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett says the school system needs to delay a state-imposed Dec. 1 deadline to deliver a list of proposed school closings. She’s asking the Illinois Legislature to approve an extension to March 31.
Performance Appraisal System Draws Ire From Teachers, Union Officials
The Daily Northwestern, IL, November 5, 2012
Evanston-Skokie School District 65’s revised performance appraisal system drew much questioning Monday from teachers, union officials and school board members.
INDIANA
Andrea Neal: The Daniels Record: Successful Innovations
Indianapolis Star, IN, November 6, 2012
Mitch Daniels used his first term to get Indiana’s fiscal house in order. His second term sealed his reputation as the education reform governor.
LOUISIANA
Amendments, School Board Term Limits
The Advocate, LA, November 6, 2012
Term limits for school board members — No.
Voters in many communities across the state, including Baton Rouge , will vote on Nov. 6 about whether to impose term limits on members of their local school board.
Jefferson Parish School Board To Review Two More Charters
Times-Picayune, LA, November 5, 2012
The Jefferson Parish School Board will vote on the applications of two charter schools at its upcoming meeting Wednesday. The charters hoping to win approval to open in the district in the 2013-14 school year are the Young Audiences Charter Association and the Pathways in Education charter.
MAINE
In Video, LePage Slams Education Policy Attacks
Morning Sentinel, ME, November 5, 2012
Supporters of public schools have run election ads critical of the governor’s policies supporting virtual charter schools and for-profit education.
MISSISSIPPI
State Republicans Renewing Charter School Push
Clarion Ledger, MS, November 5, 2012
Gov. Phil Bryant and fellow Republicans who lead the Mississippi House and Senate say they have big plans to overhaul public education during the 2013 session.
NEW JERSEY
School Board Expected To Reconsider Proposal Backed By Norcross
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ, November 6, 2012
The proposal that even a hurricane couldn’t kill is going back before the school board. At a meeting Wednesday, Camden’s Board of Education is expected to again consider a proposal for a Hope Act school to be operated by an alliance of two local foundations and a national charter-school chain.
NEW YORK
Slow Reboot for Schools
Wall Street Journal, November 6, 2012
The first day back to school for about a million New York City students after Sandy’s wrath canceled classes for a week was a slow reboot.
State Delays Release Of Teacher Ratings
Newsday, NY, November 5, 2012
The state’s chief education executive said Monday he would have to postpone the promised release of figures showing how teachers in every school district rate on a scale of “highly effective” to “ineffective,” due to technical difficulties in ensuring teachers’ privacy.
Thousands of Buffalo Classrooms Underenrolled, Consultant Says
Buffalo News, NY, November 5, 2012
One out of three middle school and high school classes in the Buffalo Public Schools have 16 or fewer students enrolled – a situation that is costing the district $7 million each year without yielding any clear academic benefits, consultants found in reports released Monday.
OHIO
Finding New Head Of Schools A Challenge
Columbus Dispatch, OH, November 6, 2012
For the third time in less than five years, Ohio has a job opening for state superintendent of public instruction.
OREGON
Portland Public Schools Issues Preliminary Recommendation Against READY Public Charter School’s Approval
The Oregonian, OR, November 5, 2012
Portland Public Schools staff on Monday issued a preliminary recommendation against approving a new charter school with a career and technical focus.
Bethel Denies School’s Appeal
Register-Guard, OR, November 6, 2012
HomeSource Family Charter School made another case for its continued existence before the Bethel School Board at a public hearing Monday.
PENNSYLVANIA
Phila. District Seeking Millions In Federal Grants
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, November 6, 2012
Philadelphia School District officials have their eye on millions in federal funds they hope to reap through grants to be awarded in December.
Most Pupils’ Parents Approve Pittsburgh Schools
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, November 6, 2012
About two-thirds of Pittsburgh Public Schools parents surveyed would recommend their child’s school, according to the district’s 2012 parent survey.
TENNESSEE
Parents Can Log On, Pick Nashville School Of Choice
The Tennessean, TN, November 6, 2012
Submitting a school choice application to Metro schools is becoming a little easier this month with the launch of an online process designed to get more children enrolled in the school they want, an education official said.
UTAH
Weber State The First Utah University, College To Start Charter School
Standard Examiner, UT, November 5, 2012
Weber State University is branching out into the charter school business. On Friday, the Utah State Board of Education approved WSU’s application to add a charter school, which will begin with kindergartners only. A Utah legislative decision in 2010 opened the door for institutions of higher learning to start charter schools after meeting state requirements.
WASHINGTON
South King County Schools Map A Course To The Top
Seattle Times, WA, November 5, 2012
The Road Map District Consortium, including South King County schools and communities, is proposing a compelling plan to win a Race to The Top grant.
I-1240: Charter Schools In Washington State
Seattle Times, WA, November 5, 2012
I am against charter schools because I believe that not everyone has an opportunity to get into a charter school. They have to apply to more than one, taking up a lot of their time, then pray and hope to get into it through a lottery. If you don’t, you end up on a waiting list.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
Tennessee Voices: Give Virtual Education A Chance In TN
The Tennessean, TN, November 6, 2012
Recently, I have encountered misinformation in regard to virtual education opportunities and the new Tennessee Virtual Academy (TNVA) here in Tennessee. I can only assume it is coming from individuals who may not understand the real virtual parent power in our state.
Local Online School Possible
Marietta Times, OH, November 6, 2012
In the years to come, Washington County residents could see more locally affiliated options for enrolling their children in online schools.